Hundreds sickened in salmonella outbreak

U.S. – Health officials say over 500 cases of salmonella poisoning have been reported that are tied to an outbreak linked to Foster Farms chicken. As reported by Reuters, officials stated Tuesday that the number had risen to 574 after 50 new cases were reported since the release of a report in April about new infections caused by drug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg strains.

As noted in the report, 37 percent of the cases have involved hospitalizations. There have been no deaths reportedly linked to the outbreak, which began in March of last year.

Foster Farms, is quoted as saying in a statement about its approach to reducing salmonella, “The company continues to make steady progress that has effectively reduced Salmonella at the parts level to less than 10 percent — well below the 2011/2012 USDA-measured industry benchmark of 25 percent.”